Kayaker dies after incident in Saluda River, Richland County coroner says

A kayaker drowned Saturday after an incident on the Saluda River, according to the coroner’s office.

It happened around 11:30 a.m. Saturday on the Saluda River around Wildlife Parkway, above the Riverbanks Zoo, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said in a release Sunday night.

Watts identified the victim as 27-year-old Gregory Hinson Jr., of Winnsboro. Hinson was involved in “a kayaking incident” and was taken to Prisma Health Richland Hospital, where he died at 7:20 p.m., Watts said. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning.

Additional details about the incident, including what caused Hinson to get into distress on the water and whether he was wearing a life jacket, were not available Sunday evening.

Hinson’s death remains under investigation by the coroner’s office and the Columbia Police Department.

This story was originally published April 28, 2019 at 9:55 PM.